Photography and Art

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Photos of Animals

I enjoy photographing animals, mostly because I've been surrounded with pet dogs and cats since childhood and also because of the lure of capturing images of wild animals in their natural habitat. This must be a carry-over from my hunter ancestors because I really do enjoy stalking my prey and snapping photographs. I can bring home my "kill" on a compact flash card and display my trophies as photos, either on my wall or online.

My friend Mary Taylor recently returned from a holiday in Africa where she participated in a safari and captured some pretty nifty images. I'm jealous as hell. In comparison, I can only claim success in hunting down a mangy moose in Algonquin Park and a beaver swimming in his pond near my cottage. Somehow, that's just not the same as capturing a cheetah eating its kill.

I make do with visits to the zoo and nature preserves. The beauty of these environments is that you can get up close to the animals and, with a suitable lens (e.g. 70-300 mm on an APSC-sensor camera), you can get some good shots. You can also pick your weather and lighting conditions and go back several times to make sure you get the photos you want.

Mouflon - Toronto Zoo



In contrast, a trip to Africa typically lasts 2-3 weeks, the animals are free to come and go as they please and you just might not encounter good weather and lighting conditions at the time your "prey" decides to appear at the watering hole.

One of my favourite places to photograph animals is the Haliburton Wolf Reserve near Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada. There is a typical wolf pack kept in a 75 acre reserve that is very close to their natural habitat. The wolves are fed by humans, but the feeding schedule is kept fairly erratic so that the pack is not allowed to lock into a schedule. When the pack is hungry, the wolves hang out near the food source, conveniently located next door to the viewing gallery. The gallery has thick glass that reflects the people in the gallery, presenting a challenge to the photographer.

Alpha Male watches from the woods



The best time to photograph wolves is in the wintertime where the trees are devoid of leaves, affording a good view of any shy wolves who stay back in the trees.

Strictly from an ecological point of view, zoos and reserves are probably a good thing. A trip to Africa carries a pretty hefty carbon consumption with it. Far better for the environment to bring the animals to the crowds instead of the crowds to the animals. Of course, there are many that argue that animals kept in artificial environments are disadvantaged somehow, but I'm not sure that the animals know or care whether they live in Africa or a suburb of Toronto.

Lion Couple Resting their Eyes



From a photographer's point of view, it is certainly more challenging and exciting to capture animals in their natural habitat. In the case of birds, it requires a great deal of patience and preparation or dumb luck. However, it is certainly possible to capture excellent images of animals in captivity that convey the essence of the beast. I don't think photographers should be ashamed of stalking animals in zoos or reserves and the popularity of the various zoo lover groups on flickr attest to the enjoyment that people get from this passtime. However, it just doesn't seem the same as chasing wild game in a land rover and shooting animals living life in the wild.


10 comments:

  1. Hi to every , since I am actually eager of reading this weblog's post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries fastidious information.
    Also see my page :: free porn tube

    ReplyDelete
  2. I will immediately grasp your rss as I can't in finding your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you've any?

    Please allow me recognize so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
    Also visit my web blog ... the only sex webcam

    ReplyDelete
  3. Greetings! Quick question that's entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when browsing from my apple iphone. I'm trying to find a template or plugin
    that might be able to correct this issue. If you have any
    recommendations, please share. Many thanks!
    Here is my site : good house renovation in winter garden florida

    ReplyDelete
  4. Touche. Great arguments. Keep up the good effort.
    Feel free to visit my web page :: click through the up coming web page

    ReplyDelete
  5. What i do not understood is in fact how you are now not actually much more smartly-liked than you
    might be right now. You are so intelligent. You realize thus considerably with regards to this matter, made me in my opinion consider it from numerous numerous angles.
    Its like women and men aren't fascinated unless it's something to accomplish with Lady gaga!

    Your personal stuffs outstanding. All the time maintain it up!
    Also see my web page - neucopia

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello to every body, it's my first pay a visit of this web site; this weblog includes remarkable and genuinely excellent data in favor of visitors.
    My web site - Gambling

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's actually very complex in this full of activity life to listen news on Television, thus I simply use internet for that reason, and get the most up-to-date news.

    My web-site - Shabby Chic Moebel Karlsruhe

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello to every one, as I am actually keen of reading this blog's post to be updated regularly. It contains nice stuff.

    Feel free to visit my page :: exercise weights

    ReplyDelete
  9. Εveryone lοѵes what you guys tend to be up too.

    Thіs κіnd of clevег work anԁ coѵeragе!
    Keep up the amazing works guys I've added you guys to my own blogroll.

    Feel free to visit my page - Desenv.Fabricadeaventuras.Com.Br

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey theгe wοulԁ you mind statіng which blog platform you're working with? I'm looκing
    to stагt my own blog soon but I'm having a difficult time deciding between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I'm loοkіng for something unіque.

    P.S Sorry foг being off-topic but I had to aѕk!


    Alѕo ѵisit my web-site ... CarbonPoker Promotions

    ReplyDelete